LOCAL organisations have vowed to continue their fight to secure a specialist prostate cancer nurse after the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) was unsuccessful in the latest round of applications.
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MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford declared they would apply in the future after Thursday's announcement.
"While we are disappointed our application was unsuccessful, we will continue to pursue other funding opportunities if they become available," she said.
"MLHD has a range of existing cancer care coordination staff who can support men with prostate cancer.
"Community health nurses are also trained and skilled to provide care to prostate cancer patients."
Wagga prostate cancer support group president Kerry Geale saw no logic in the appointments of nurses to the 14 other towns over Wagga.
"I don't understand their logic," he said.
"I think it stinks personally.
"I just can't come to grips with having four in such close proximity to one another."
The group has taken a pragmatic approach toward a solution, with plans in the works to develop a prostate nurse education program, expected to roll out next year.
Prostate cancer advocate Bob Bowcher was disappointed Wagga missed out, but added the fight wasn't over.
"We're not going to rest," he said.
"This is not going to go away.
"We're going to lobby, start a petition, we'll have public meetings.
"We won't rest until we see a Murrumbidgee prostate cancer nurse.
"At the end of the day, I've put a lot of things on the line, there's been a lot of retribution over this.
"I'm doing it for the men, I want to leave a footprint.
"While I've got breath, I'm going to fight and so are all the other men.
"I see the doctor or urologist as the captain, I see the prostate nurse as the sergeant or the corporal.
"They are to follow up the main journey."
Mr Bowcher said the appointment of a nurse in Wagga would have serviced surrounding towns also.
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